Master's, Mental Health Counseling, Monmouth University. Jason Caianiello. Master's, Organizational Behavior, Systems an
Inside this Issue:
NEWS
TED Talk & Gendered Toys
2
Pick Your Piece: Daughter Water
3
62nd Semi Annual Undergraduate Conference
4
Faculty Focus: Research & Scholarship
5-6
Student Group Focus: EPA Trip
7
Student Group Focus Psi Chi Induction & Summer Scholarship Recipient
8
Recent Graduates and Graduation Event
9
Alumni Updates & Student Awards
10
Class Focus: The Psychology of Death & Dying
11
Class Focus: The Social Psychology of Reality TV
12
Career Mentoring Focus
13
Alumni Profile Shannon Connell ‘09
14
Alumni Focus: Laina DiMento City Year in Philadelphia
15
Alumni Career Panel
16
Psychology in Pictures
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Dr. Christine Hatchard Receives National Early Career Psychologist Award from the American Psychological Association (APA) Dr. Hatchard, an assistant professor of psychology and the director of the Clinical Psychology Research Center, has received the 2015 Early Career Achievement Award from the American Psychological Association. This highly selective award is given out to early career psychologists from all areas of psychology (education, public interest, practice, and science) that are within ten years of receiving their doctorate. This award comes with a travel award to
the 2015 American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto where winners will be acknowledged during the Early Career Social Hour. Winners were chosen “from an extraordinary pool of candidates based on their achievements and demonstrations of astute leadership in the field of Psychology.” This is the second national award Dr. Hatchard has won as an early career Psychologist. In 2012, she won an Early Career Psychologist Scholarship Award
from the National Register of Health Service Providers in conjunction with the American Psychological Association.
Dr. Dinella’s Behavioral Psychology Course at Six Flags Featured in Time Magazine and on NPR Dr. Lisa Dinella’s work with the Six Flags course was featured in Frank Bruni’s book “Where You Go is Not Who You Will Be” as an example of a stellar educational experience that Ivy League schools do not provide. The distinctive experience that the course provides Psychology majors was also featured in an article from the March issue of Time Magazine and was mentioned on NPR.
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Dr. Lewandowski Gives TED Talk: “Breakups Don’t Have to Leave You Broken” Dr. Gary Lewandowski gave a TED talk as part of the TedxNavesink Accelarators Conference held at Monmouth University. This Conference featured thirty speakers selected from hundreds of applicants and attracted nearly seven hundred people.
He also found that individuals who focused on rediscovering the person they were before the relationship by doing activities the relationship may have prevented them from doing, had the best recovery from breakup. His talk was featured on Cosmopolitan and the Huffington Post and already has over 11,000 views. You can watch the talk here:
Dr. Lewandowski’s talk focused on the positive side of relationship https://www.youtube.com/watch? breakups. He argues that relationv=Cw2qD87KDHc ships should build and sustain us. Relationships end because they are broken and often lead to positive experiences. This was especially true for those in relationships that did not help them grow as a person.
“Great relationships seldom fail. Bad ones do, as they should.”
Dr. Lewandowski at the TEDxNavesink Accelerators Conference
Dr. Dinella’s Interview on Gendered Toys Dr. Lisa Dinella was on the May 6th edition of WAMC’s Academic Minute (her interview also appeared in InsiderHigherEd) where she spoke about her research on ‘gendered toys’. When playing with toys, children are being taught about the world around them, but if they are only playing with half of the toys, they are only learning half of the lessons these toys have to offer. Dr. Dinella was interested in learning whether children naturally like certain toys or if this is something they learn. Using the marketing strategies of toy companies (pink for girl toys, blue for boy toys), Dr. Dinella and her colleagues gave the children a pink and a blue tea set, a pink and a blue truck, and others. A surprising finding was that the girls also liked the boy toys, but only if they were pink. The color pink gives girls the permission to play with all of the toys. In this study, boys were not as lucky. Having “girl” toys painted blue did not make the boys want to play with dolls or tea sets. Society holds boys to a higher standard when it comes to following the rules, but these rules for what girls and boys “should” like are extremely powerful. You can listen to Dr. Dinella’s interview here: http://academicminute.org/2015/05/lisa-dinella-monmouth-universitygendered-toys/
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“Pick Your Little Piece of the World and Improve It” Daughter Water: Finding a Solution to the Pay Gap By: Tiffany Hackett Statistically, the average woman makes 77 cents for every dollar earned by her male counterpart. This discrepancy persisted, despite the passing of legislation designed to eliminate the wage gap. Since legislation by itself is ineffective, what if that solution came in the form of a bottle of water? This is the idea behind the Daughter Water campaign, started by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency, which is devoted to the fight for equal pay in Australia. WGEA developed the Daughter Water campaign following the results of a study, conducted in Denmark that showed when a male CEO has a daughter, the wage gap within his company begins to diminish (Dahl, Dezso & Ross, 2013).
Tiffany displaying a bottle of Daughter Water
In general, the study found that when men have sons, the wages in their companies begin to decrease as they increase their own pay, but having daughters has no effect on the wages (2013). However, something interesting happened when they took into account the birth order of the CEO’s children. Specifically, when a CEO’s first child is a girl, the females within that company experience a 1.1 percent pay increase, and thus the Daughter Water campaign was born.
I happened to hear about the Daughter Water campaign at the same time I was learning about the wage gap in my Psychology of Women course. I had decided to create bottles of Daughter Water and distribute them at a company here in the United States, as part of my end-of-semester project, to raise awareness about the pay gap. I presented the idesa to my professor, Dr. Lisa Dinella. She loved it and said “I think Daughter Water activism is a unique way to reach business leaders and inform them of ways that they can be instrumental in reducing the gender wage gap.” So I got to work creating the U.S. version of Daughter Water along with the little pamphlets that contained some statistics on the pay gap, and headed off to a law firm in lower Manhattan to hand them out. Going into this, I expected mixed reactions especially since, in this particular law office, only six of the twenty-five attorneys are female. The most surprising reaction came from a male attorney who stated, he was all for pay equality because he enjoys that his girlfriend earns a higher salary than him. His comment actually raised a good point; the pay gap is not just a women’s issue. It affects everyone. We live in an era where more and more women are the main bread winners for their households, which means the wage gap affects hundreds of families. This is why finding a solution to this problem is so imperative. My hope is that, in handing out Daughter Water, I helped to start a typically taboo conversation and possibly changed the wage discrepancy in at least one company.
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62nd Semi-Annual Undergraduate Student Conference On Saturday, May 2nd 2015, the Department hosted the 62nd SemiAnnual Undergraduate Student Conference in Pollak Auditorium.
Hosted twice a year at the end of each academic semester, this culminating event showcased students’ accomplishments in thesis and internship placements. Thesis research is a degree requirement in the Department of Psychology at Monmouth University, a unique feature that sets MU students apart from psychology students regionally and nationally. Students presented their research in either paper or poster format in front of their peers and the faculty. Students also shared their internship experiences, including how their internship influenced their career plans. The conference featured 31 paper and 18 poster presentations of students’ research projects, as well as 24 posters and 3 presentations of students’ internship experience. In addition to these presentations, we also had an alumni talk organized by the Department’s Alumni Coordinator Dr. Lisa Dinella that featured a talk from alumna Jennifer McCarthy who addressed attendees regarding the importance of staying connected to the department,
Martika Hubbard presented Winners Never Quit: The Effects of Grit & Self-Efficacy on Relationship Satisfaction. Her study looked at how grit (a sense of resilience in the face of obstacles) and relationship self-efficacy (feeling capable of overcoming difficulties) influenced relationship satisfaction while also looking at athletes compared to non-athletes. 155 participants (85 student athletes and 70 non athletes) took an online survey and found that those who are high in both grit and self-efficacy had higher relationship satisfaction. She also conducted mediation analyses which revealed that self-efficacy mediated grit’s association with relationship outcomes suggesting that grit’s benefits for relationships are largely due to increased relationship efficacy. Tiffany Hackett presented “Lets Talk About Sex Baby”: A Woman’s Appearance as an Indicator of Sexual Promiscuity. This study investigated whether there is a correlation between a woman’s appearance and a sexually promiscuous lifestyle. Sixty-six participants, all female, were approached inside bars in Long Branch prior to them ordering any drinks and with permission. Photos were taken of their outfits from the neck down. Each participant’s photo was evaluated using a coding scheme specifically developed for this study to rate the sexual suggestiveness of her attire. The results of this study suggest that while a woman’s appearance may be an indication of her sexual attitudes, it does not indicate her number of sexual partners, which is the main predictor of sexual promiscuity.
Best Paper: Alex Lustig Title: Put Your Best Picture Forward: Dogs and Children in Male Online Dating Pictures Alex’s study examined the placement of a dog or a child in a male online dating picture. However, there were no significant differences between the average attraction ratings for each picture.
Brianna Goitiandia presents her internship.
Katarina Kneer presented about her internship experience with The Polling Institute here at Monmouth University. One of the Polling Institute’s biggest contributions involved the many polls conducted about the aftermath and psychological impact that Hurricane Sandy had on affected residents. The staff was able to release multiple reports discussing the mental health of the survivors as well as how much aid was offered to them. There were several interesting findings, including that 77% of surveyed participants indicate having a worse employment situation since the storm. Katarina also had the opportunity to assist in analyzing data about the psychological impact of the storm. Her time at the Polling Institute has further inspired her to pursue a career as a researcher.
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Faculty Focus: Research and Scholarship FACULTY ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS & GRANTS * Monmouth University Department of Psychology Undergraduate Student ** Monmouth University Department of Psychology Alumni ***University Colleague
Dinella, L. M., & Ciarocco, N. J. (2015). Grant in support of the third biennial Atlantic Coast Teaching of Psychology Conference (ACToP Conference). American Psychological Association BEA Grant for Precollege & Undergraduate Teaching Conference. (Amount awarded: $1,000). Holmes, R. (2015). Cultural and historical approaches to adult play and well-being. Monmouth University Grant-in-Aid for Creativity. (Amount awarded: $1,000). Lewandowski, G. W., Jr., Higgins, E.,** & Ozog, V.** (2015). The science of improving relationships. In A. Reynolds (Ed.) The Psychology of Interpersonal Perception and Relationships (pp. 1-36). Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Noonan, J.**, & Stapley, J. C. (2015, March). The demise of in-person academic advising is nowhere in sight! Academic Advising Today, 38(1). Retrieved from www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today. Rosnow, R. L., & Strohmetz, D. B. (2015). Experimenter and subject artifacts: Methodology. In J. Wright (Ed.) International Encyclopedia of Social & Behavioral Sciences (2nd edition), (Vol. 8 , pp. 571-575). Oxford: Elsevier.
FACULTY INVITED TALKS Dinella, L. M. (2015). Building today’s men: Constructing masculinity. Invited address to parents and faculty at Saint Peter’s Preparatory High School. Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, February). Successful teaching and scholarship at undergraduate focused institutions (UFIs). Mentored Lunch and Breakout session hosted at the Academic and Non-Academic Jobs for Social-Personality Psychologists Preconference at the Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting. Stapley, J. C. (2015, March). The demise of in-person academic advising is nowhere in sight! Keynote Talk and group facilitator for Monmouth University full Faculty Advisor Training ½ day Conference.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS Acri, L. M.* & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, May). The influence of the self in partner behavior interpretation. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, New York, NY. Caianiello, J. G.*, & Van Volkom, M. (2015, March). You’re hired: The effect of school prestige and presence of profile pictures on overall impression of LinkedIn profiles. Poster presented at the 2015 Eastern Psychological Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Ciarocco, N. J., & O’Dwyer, J.* (2015, February). Doing with others what you cannot do alone: The role of group support in self-control. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, Long Beach, CA Dinella, L. M., Weisgram, E. & , Fulcher, M. (2015). “Is it pink? Does it have wheels?": Examining the factors that contribute to children’s gender schemata of toys. Symposium presented at the meetings of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia. Dinella, L. M., *Levinson, J. & *Acri, L. (2015). Can a princess be powerful?: An experimental study manipulating children’s perceptions of princesses and the self. Symposium presented at the meetings of the Society for Research in Child Development, Philadelphia. Foster, J.,*** & Rochette, A. L.* (2015, May). Criminal justice students' perceptions of prison visitation programs for children of incarcerated parents. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science, New York City, NY. Hughes, E. K.*, Magenheim, J.*, & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, March). To expand or not to expand the self: Individual differences in self-expansion and self-conservation. Poster presented at the 2015 Eastern Psychological Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Ketch,* J. L., & Strohmetz, D. B. (2015, May). Humorous or insensitive? The effects of self-esteem on cultural sensitivity. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, New York, NY. Ketch,* J. L., & Strohmetz, D. B. (2015, March). Watching vs. reading: Studying influences on tipping behavior in a laboratory setting. Poster presented at the 2015 Eastern Psychological Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Stapley, J. C. & Bothner, K. E.** (2015, March). Academic advising: The key to increasing retention among students with anxiety disorders. Poster presented at NACADA Region 2 Conference, Richmond, VA. Stapley, J. C. & Morecraft, J.** (2015, May). Sex differences in death anxiety and grieving among emerging adults. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, New York, NY. Townsend, J.* & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, May). Let's talk about it: Sexual communication, personality, and authenticity. Poster presented at the Association for Psychological Science Convention, New York, NY. Warehime, R.*, Hunt, E.*, & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, March). Heat of passion: The effects of embodied temperature on relationship perception. Poster presented at the 2015 Eastern Psychological Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
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Faculty Focus: Research and Scholarship FACULTY IN THE MEDIA Dr. Dinella Dr. Lisa Dinella’s work with the Six Flags course was featured in Frank Bruni’s book “Where You Go is Not Who You Will Be” as an example
of a stellar educational experience that Ivy League schools do not provide. This was subsequently picked up in the March issue of Time Magazine and was mentioned on NPR. Dr. Lisa Dinella was on the May 6th edition of WAMC’s Academic Minute where she spoke about her research on “Gendered Toys.”
Dr. Gary Lewandowski TED Talk Huffington Post “The No. 1 Thing To Do If You Want To Move On Post-Split” (May, 2015) Cosmopolitan “Watch This Scientist Perfectly Explain Why Your Breakup Won't Destroy You” (April, 2015 Bloomberg/Asbury Park Press “Rethinking hospital gowns, breakups and climate change” (April, 2015) Psychology Today “5 Ways to Heal a Broken Heart” (April, 2015) Greatist “How to End a Relationship Without Being a Jerk” (April, 2015) Baltimore Sun “Beauty Is In The Shifting Eye of the Beholder” (April, 2015) eHarmony “The Best Break-Up I Ever Had” (March, 2015) Iowa Public Radio Interview “The Science of Love” (February, 2015) Careers in Psychology.org “Choosing To Focus On Research As A Psychologist” (February, 2015) Self Magazine “Here’s What Everyone Does On Valentine’s Day” (February, 2015) Forbes “What's Love Got To Do With It?” (February, 2015) USNews “The Anatomy of a Broken Heart” (February, 2015) io9 “The Best Way To Recover From A Break-Up — According To Science” (February, 2015) New York Magazine (Science of Us) "Happy Couples Are Probably Deluding Themselves" (February, 2015) MedicalDaily “Time Heals All Wounds: Broken Heart Mends 3 Months After The Breakup, Says Science” (January, 2015) NPR “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do, But Science Can Help” (January, 2015)
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARLY WORK Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, May). The one thing that will get you through a bad breakup. Refinery29. Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, April). Science figured out the type of person who falls in love the fastest. Business Insider. Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, April). What is the secret to a great relationship? Digital Romance. Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, January). Students separated from their phones do worse on tests. Business Insider. Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2015, January). The biology of cheating. Refinery29.
OTHER SCHOLARLY ACTIVITIES Dr. Hatchard and Dr. Goodwin held the 7th Annual Making Daughters Safe Again (MDSA) Retreat which attracts survivors of mother-daughter sexual abuse from around the country for a weekend of group therapy and therapeutic activities. Monmouth University Psychology undergraduate students, Eryn Siddall and Louise Moss, and Mental Health Counseling graduate student, Lauren Muniz, assisted. Professor Holmes was on sabbatical this past Spring working on her third book titled, Cultural Psychology with Oxford University Press
Interns Lauren Muniz, Louise Moss, and Eryn Siddall at the 7th Annual MDSA Retreat held by Dr. Hatchard and Dr. Goodwin
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Student Group Focus Seventeen Students Attend the Psychology Club Trip to the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) Conference in Philadelphia By: Taylor Maleski and Cynthia Vitolo Looking back, we wouldn’t trade our experiences at the EPA Conference for anything. In only three days, our group of seventeen students represented Monmouth University as professionals and meshed with other students and professors in the psychology field. Not only was it educational, we had a lot of fun! The trip down to Philadelphia was perhaps the most memorable. We watched other trains pass along as ours was stuck in the foot of snow that was still falling. But, during our rough journey to the conference, we were able to break the ice and really get to know each other. Everyone had a chance to make new friends and because of this we became closer as a club. One real takeaway from this trip was the fun we all had with each other, simply enjoying what the great city of Philadelphia has to offer. On food excursions, we went to the Reading Terminal Market just steps from where we stayed, where there were any and all types of food imaginable (and $4 smoothies— I kid you not! Try and find that around us!) The terminal itself was a cultural experience, and it was everything Dr. Strohmetz said it would be. A must visit kind of place in the heart of Philadelphia! As for the conference itself, it was very enlightening. Each morning dressing up in our best professional attire, Starbucks in hand, we were ready to take on the Psychology world. As Monmouth students, we were able to see and hear the psychological principles we have been learning about for years, applied in the real world. The research sequence was brought to life as professors and students shared their research through poster and speaker presentations. What was even more intriguing was seeing our very own fellow colleagues present their research posters! Overall, research posters focused on areas of psychology such as clinical, neuroscience, cognitive and social, while speaker presentations expanded on popular psychology concepts like female serial killers and also provided great resume and career tips! Through this conference, we learned about growing areas of Psychology, including Industrial/ Organizational and Human Resources. We also had the opportunity to hear a keynote speaker presentation by the EPA president on how to bring the science of psychology into the real world, which may have been THE presentation to see! The conference was an all-around developmental experience. We were able to network with professionals, learn about the field, and build new friendships. We would recommend this to anyone who would like to get to know more about the psychology world. Many thanks to the Psychology club for making this possible! The EPA Conference was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience we will never forget, and one we will take with us forever. “I have the EPA conference to thank for further confirming my passion in psychology”
“Every psychology major should go to EPA if given the opportunity. ”
“The biggest thing I learned was the importance of research to the field of psychology. Many people don’t realize how broad of a field psychology is and what a large role research plays in its development. I appreciate Monmouth’s psychology department even more now for educating us and giving us experience with the research process... ”
~ Lauren Muffley
~ Kathleen Piccoli
~ Genesis Gonzalez
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Student Group Focus Psi Chi International Honor Society Inductees On Saturday March 29th the Department of Psychology hosted a gathering to honor this year’s inductees into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. Congratulations to our newest inductees: Fall
Spring
Jenna Colacci ‘16
Elizabeth Beaudoin ‘16
Michelle Grushko ‘16
Nicole Conklin ‘15
Courtney Jonker ‘15
Jenna Cupp ‘17
Jordan Levinson ‘15
Jodi DiSilvestro ‘17
Louise Moss ‘16
Samantha Genise ‘’17
Kathleen Piccoli ‘16
Ashley Giannone ‘16
Taylor Smith ‘17
Genesis Gonzalez ‘16
Jayde Valosin ‘15
Lauren Horner ‘16
Taylor Zaborney ‘16
Mallory Inselberg ‘17 Olivia Mazanec ‘15
Psychology Student Receives $1000 Summer Scholarship from the New Jersey Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium Katrina Mavrode, senior Psychology Major from Middletown, NJ has been selected to receive a $1000.00 Summer Internship Scholarship from the New Jersey Women’s and Gender Studies Consortium based on a statewide competition. Katrina’s award will help support her internship at Special People United to Ride (SPUR). According to Katrina, “SPUR is a program that uses horses as a therapeutic means of healing. It is a non-profit program that helps individuals in several ways by addressing developmental delays and mental illness. ” At SPUR Katrina will both care for therapy horses by grooming and tacking, leading and monitoring horses during therapeutic lessons, and acting as a side walker to ensure clients' safety. As Katrina stated, "I am proud to be apart of the SPUR family because together we each contribute to helping our riders reach their fullest potential." Katrina will complete her internship under the mentorship of Dr. Janice Stapley.
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Recent Graduates Brielle Aaron Jason Caianiello Jay Cittadino Nicole Conklin Stephanie DeNicola Sarah Dubin Macy Elder Martika Hubbard Matthew Lang Alex Lustig Jordan Levinson Nicole Maldonado Robert McNamara Jennifer Mora Genna Moscato Lauren Muffley Michael Napkori Rebecca Nicola Deanna Puglio Lindsay Redfern Eryn Siddall Angela Scalici
Master’s, Mental Health Counseling, Monmouth University Master’s, Organizational Behavior, Systems and Analytics, New York University Sales Specialist at Setaram Instrumentation Animal Trainer, Six Flags Master’s, Clinical Mental Health and Counseling, Georgian Court University Master’s, Clinical Psychology, Millersville University of Pennsylvania Job Coach/Employment Specialist at Waters & Sims Employment Services in Red Bank Master’s, Mental Health Counseling (Addictions), Monmouth University Master’s, Marriage and Family, University of San Diego Law School, Duke University Master's, Media, Communication, and Culture from the Universi y of Barcelona Autonoma Year of Service with City Year Boston Master’s in Family Therapy, Specializing in Sex Therapy, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Master’s, Social Work, Monmouth University Master’s, School Counseling, Monmouth University Widener Law School Master’s, School Counseling, Monmouth University Medical School, Virginia Tech Staffing and Recruiting at Diversant, Red Bank, NJ Master’s, Mental Health Counseling, Monmouth University Psi Chi President Jason Caianiello Master’s, School Counseling, Monmouth University and Dr. Stapley at graduation. Psy. D., Clinical Psychology, Chestnut Hill College Human Resources Coordinator, Millennium Group, Tinton Falls
Department of Psychology Celebrates with Class of May 2015 For the 9th consecutive year, the Department of Psychology gathered in the PNC parking lot prior to graduation to celebrate our students’ big day. Under Dr. Coppola’s leadership and expert party planning this year’s event featured a variety of food, drinks, and a lollipop tree. However, the biggest hits were the Department of Psychology fortune cookies featuring motivational messages from famous psychologists such as: “The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change.” ~Carl Rogers “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” ~William James “In any given moment we have two options, to step forward into growth or step back into safety.” ~Abraham Maslow “What we see changes what we know. What we know changes what we see.” ~Jean Piaget
The faculty attempts to be cool by taking a group selfie. Appropriately, our students photobomb us.
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Alumni News
Miriam Ayoub, Psy.D. Clinical Psychology, Chestnut Hill College
Victoria Drake was accepted into a Master’s program at New York University
Katie Houman just completed her Masters in Mental Health Counseling at Monmouth University
Cathy Jakobsze Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, Monmouth
Teresa Mathews Master’s in Psychological Counseling and Human Services at Lehigh University
Samantha Messina Master’s in Speech & Language Pathology, Monmouth
Jenn Noonan (BA, Monmouth, MS, Seton Hall) accepted a full-time position with the Long Branch Police Department
Jennifer Ruggiero College Student Affairs program at Rutgers University
Jorge Branco published another article in EliteDaily entitled, “How Adventure Travel In Nepal Opened My Eyes To Life’s Truths” about his experiences in Nepal after the large earthquake. As he states “Everything can change so fast, so it’s imperative we take life’s epic opportunities and make the world a better place by seeking out new challenges and empowering others to do the same. ”
Student Award Winners Alice Gustav Award — Michelle Grushko For outstanding performance by a returning psychology major who exemplifies the ideals of compassion, hard work, independence, striving towards excellence, and a commitment to the feminist tradition.
Doris Klein Hiatt Internship Award — Lauren Muffley Donated by colleagues and family of professor emeritus Dr. Doris K. Hiatt, this is given each semester to a student who excels in either PY310 Field Experience or PY 489 Internship.
Griffin Award — Michael Napkori Presented in honor and recognition of the highest Grade Point Average by a graduating Psychology major.
Randenberg Memorial Award — Erin Hughes For outstanding all-around performance by a Psychology Major who exemplifies the ideals of service and involvement in psychology. The award reflects excellence in academic work, commitment to scientific research and discovery, and the demonstration of leadership and social responsibility.
Rose Feinberg — Eryn Siddall Donated by Harold Feinberg, and by family and friends of the late Mrs. Rose Feinberg, a graduate and faculty member of Monmouth University, for a deserving student in Psychology.
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Courses that Challenge and Inspire The Psychology of Death and Dying with Dr. Coppola By: Alex E. Lustig and Danielle St. Vincent Why You Should Take This Class When I first declared psychology as my major, I never thought I would be taking a class titled “Death and Dying.” But here I am as a senior, enrolled in the class and enjoying it more than I ever would have expected. Dr. Coppola has a knack for handling such a strong subject, and she often manages to evoke laughter, introspection, and curiosity all in a single class period. The constant incorporation of new material adds a degree of unpredictability that makes the class one of a kind. If a newly declared psychology major wanted to know the one class to take before graduating, I would recommend Death and Dying with Dr. Coppola without hesitation. - Alex Never in my life did I think that I would be interested in the topic of death, let alone take a class about it. In my junior year of college I lost someone very special to me and was having a hard time coping with the loss. A friend of mine recommended the Psychology of Death and Dying course, and told me it offered her a lot of help through her grieving process, and thought it could potentially help me as well. I am so thankful for that friend who told me about this course, because it was the best class I have taken throughout my three years at Monmouth, with the best professor/instructor I have ever had in my life. Dr. Coppola has shined a light on a topic that not many people have the courage to openly discuss. Although my main focus for taking this class was to learn about the grieving process, I have found that learning about all of the different topics associated with death have helped me. - Danielle
Balloon Release Since the beginning of the class in January, Dr. Coppola has told the class about a balloon release day at the end of the semester. I had never participated in a balloon release, but part of me became very excited when she showed us a picture of last year’s balloon release on a sunny day in front of Wilson Hall. As we approached the
day to release balloons, Dr. Coppola had the class vote on a color. We collectively chose yellow, as it represents life and happiness. The release was in memory of anyone or anything lost; some dedicated their balloons to loved ones who had passed, pets that had passed, and relationships that ended. People wrote names and messages on their balloons and the class made its way out to the steps in front of Wilson Hall. We all released our balloons and watched them until they were out of sight. It was certainly an emotional day for the class, but the activity caused many to feel a cathartic happiness. Funeral Home Visit Did you ever think you would spend a class in a funeral home? In this class you will and I promise you it will be one of your favorite class experiences that you will never forget. We toured the funeral home and learned about the funeral process from an extremely interesting funeral director, Mr. Damiano. He let us ask anything, and I mean anything, and answered each question with respect and honesty. We got to look at all his merchandise and learn about current trends in remembering deceased loved ones (I loved the idea of getting a fingerprint pendant). The trip brought our class into the real world and we could see what it was really like to be someone who deals with death and dying every day. The experience also made me more knowledgeable and more comfortable with the whole process. I am very glad that I went. Take Home There is so much more to this class and we don’t want to spoil the surprises that await if you decide to take it. This class has taught us nearly everything we need to know about the dying process, and then some. This was not an easy class to take, many discussions were emotional, but overall, we will always remember this class as one of our favorites at Monmouth. We recommend anyone who is eligible to take this course because death is something that affects all of us in some way and this class will prepare you to face these real world issues.
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Courses that Challenge and Inspire Amber Marchese Discusses the Psychology of Reality TV in Dr. Strohmetz’s Social Psychology Course By: Leigh Ricciardi On Monday, March 30th, the Real Housewives of New Jersey reality T.V. star, Amber Marchese and her husband Jim, visited her alma mater, Monmouth University. Amber Marchese spoke with Dr. Stohmetz’s class about popular topics in social psychology in order to give them a few real-life examples. Amber and Jim Marchese spoke about the different factors that come along with the reality show from the behind-the-scenes situational factors that lead to their crazy responses on T.V., to the love and hate they receive from their viewers. One of the most popular topics of conversation was cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is defined by Eliot Aronson, the author of The Social Animal (the book Dr. Strohmetz class reads), as “a state of tension that occurs whenever an individual simultaneously holds two cognitions (ideas, attitudes, beliefs, opinions) that are psychologically inconsistent (p. 431). Several students in the class were regular viewers of The Real Housewives of New Jersey and had strong and negative preconceived ideas about the couple from the show, before meeting them in person. As it turns out, Amber and Jim were able to reveal their true, off-camera selves, to Dr. Strohmetz’s class. Sitting in the classroom listening to the Marchese’s share who they truly are, you could feel the cognitive dissonance working in the brains of the students who had these preconceived ideas. For the most part, minds were changed about the couple. What, on television, seemed to be two out of control, trouble-starting adults, turned out to be two well-educated, kind-hearted parents of a large family. It was great to have Amber and Jim Marchese speak to our own class here at Monmouth University and we hope to have them visit again in the future.
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Focus on Career Mentoring Department of Psychology’s Professional Development Series By: Dr. Natalie Ciarocco Based on feedback from last year’s annual senior survey, the Department of Psychology added professional development programming for our students during the spring semester. In addition to the Career Preparation in Psychology (PY201) course and a modular professional development curriculum embedded in required research courses, the Professional Development Series offers presentations on a variety of professional development topics. In the spring, the emphasis was on professions in mental health. In February, Dr. Christine Hatchard presented Careers in Mental Health. The choices in the mental health field are often overwhelming for students. It is not always clear the education path to each profession or the differences in their day-today duties for each career option. Dr. Hatchard designed a lecture to help students determine which career path in mental health was for them and how to best prepare for each career. Professions discussed included: Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Licensed Clinical or Counseling Psychologist (Ph.D/Psy.D), Licensed Social Worker, Psychiatry, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. In April, the Department hosted the MU Mental Health Counseling Alumni Panel. This program was for students interested in attending the Mental Health Counseling program at Monmouth University. Our speakers were a panel of students that graduated from the undergraduate program in psychology at Monmouth University and also attended, or were currently attending, the Monmouth University Mental Health Counseling program for graduate training. Our panel included three students currently enrolled in the program, Barbara Fulmer (’10), Katie Houman (’11), and Kaitlin Lechner (’11) as well as a graduate of the program, Lina Jaramillo (’09 & ‘12). The alumnae provided insight into life as a graduate student, the MU Mental Health Counseling program in particular, as well as information on various certifications available in their training, career options with their degree, and the requirements for licensure. The Department is continuing this idea throughout the summer with the Summer Professional Development Series. Every few weeks, we are sending students emails with helpful tips and ideas about how to work on professional development over the summer. We have already send out emails about updating and creating LinkedIn profiles and scheduling and studying for the GREs. We plan to send a summer reading list and information about how to select graduate programs among other topics this summer.
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Alumni Spotlight Shannon (Connell) Kelley, Class of 2009 6th Year Psy.D. Student at Chestnut Hill College It is hard to believe that it has been six years since I proudly graduated from Monmouth University. As I reflect back on my journey, I find myself extremely grateful to have had such a wonderful experience being a student in the Department of Psychology at Monmouth. I truly believe that those four years fostered my passion for psychology and lifelong learning. After leaving the comforts of Monmouth, I began the next step in my journey at Chestnut Hill College. I entered the first semester of graduate school feeling both nervous and prepared. Although I was not sure what would come my way, I felt confident that my training and experiences at Monmouth provided me with not only a solid foundation in psychological concepts and theory, but also taught me the importance of critical thinking and time management. Furthermore, the Psychology Department provided a community of support and acceptance in which I could always rely on while still developing my own identity and sense of independence. My previous experiences at Monmouth, Chestnut Hill, and various training sites have reinforced my desire to seek out a career that will continue to allow me to work alongside a variety of professionals who share my interest and dedication to diversity, cultural competence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and teamwork. These experiences have contributed to my understanding of the importance of professionalism and ethical decision-making. During graduate school my enthusiasm for psychology expanded to include many aspects of the field from psychotherapy and assessment, to leadership and the integration of medicine and psychology. Since leaving Monmouth I have gained supervised doctoral-level practicum experience in a variety of settings, which focused primarily on the assessment and treatment of diverse children, adolescents, and their families. These settings include a community mental health center, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, a residential treatment facility, and an academic medical center. I am currently completing my predoctoral internship at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, MA where I am conducting individual and group therapy on an inpatient and outpatient basis. I am also conducting outpatient neuropsychological evaluations. While my training experiences in providing psychotherapy has greatly influenced my professional identity, my true passion lies in assessment and the field of neuropsychology. I am very excited to begin the next step in my career as a Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellow at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), where I will be working primarily in the Department of Neurology conducting neuropsychological assessments. While many years have passed since I was a student at Monmouth, I still feel just as much a part of the Department of Psychology “family” now as I did then. I am eternally thankful for the guidance and support that I received both inside and outside of the classroom. I admire the supportive and empowering atmosphere that has been created at Monmouth University. This is not the result of one person, but instead a community of people coming together to achieve a common goal, which is to provide each and every student with the best experience possible.
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Alumni Focus Laina DiMento, Making a Difference with City Year in Philadelphia By: Jordan Levinson Laina DiMento, a 2014 graduate, returned to Monmouth in February of 2015 to give an Alumni Focus presentation about her current position as a Corps Member with City Year Philadelphia. City Year is an organization that places enthusiastic and dedicated young adults in inner city schools all over the country to act as mentors and tutors to the students. City Year partners with schools located in high poverty areas in order to bridge the gap between what the school can provide and what the students need to improve graduation rates. The program focuses on encouraging regular attendance, improving math and English literacy, and changing disruptive classroom behaviors.
Laina DiMento (Class of ‘14) and Jordan Levinson (Class of ‘15)
During her visit, Laina spent time with a few students who were especially interested in the program and then presented about her experience as a Corps member to a larger group of students. Graduating senior, Lindsey Pieschl says, “It was great to hear what Monmouth alumni were doing after graduation.” Laina explained that every day, she uses the principles she learned as a psychology major. Her year of service requires skills such as communication, group collaboration, collecting and analyzing data, and a commitment to help others. Students greatly benefit from being able to hear from alumni about their personal experiences after graduation.
Laina’s experience is one of countless ways that students can apply the skills they learned during their four years in the department of Psychology to their future careers. Laina’s visit inspired students, including myself, to think about the unconventional ways in which they can use their degree or about an alternative to a graduate program. After hearing about her experience, I made the decision to spend my own year of service with City Year Boston after graduation. Jennifer Pacheco, another graduating senior and Psychology major recalls, “Watching Laina present about City Year really highlighted the difference that we, as Monmouth alumni, can make in the world once we graduate.” The Department of Psychology hosted this event in collaboration with the Sociology program as well as the Gender Studies program. The obstacles that Laina works to combat each day relate to these concentrations. The program requires members work in a group with different traditions, opinions, and educational backgrounds to accomplish a common goal. Learning about these opportunities together can accentuate the myriad of ways in which we, as students, can join forces with others, utilize a degree from Monmouth University, and change the world.
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Alumni Focus Alumni Career Panel By: Taylor Giblin and Jenn Pacheco The Alumni Panel Event featured four exceptional women that encompass successful careers after graduating from Monmouth University. Both Victoria Drake (’13) and Megan Jeffers (‘11) found careers that integrated the principles they learned during their research courses here in the Department of Psychology. Victoria Drake, who analyzes sales data with Nickelodeon, currently examines the effectiveness of advertising campaigns on Nickelodeon’s digital platforms, which include apps and social media sites. Megan Jeffers also conducts consumer and market research, and she assists with focus groups as well as organizing one-on-one interviews. Integrating a fun twist on what it means to be a Psychology major, Lauren Korcz (‘07) discussed her work in Sports Psychology at the Fort Drum Army Base. There she is a Master Resilience Trainer and Performance Expert where she helps soldiers and their families with their fitness. And, finally, for those students who have their mind set on graduate school—which is often inevitable in the field of Psychology– Maria Sciandra (‘13) discussed what it is like taking on graduate school. Currently, she studies Occupational Therapy at Kean University, where she not only completes research and coursework, but works in the field of her choosing. The Alumni Panel was a very eye opening experience. As a senior graduating in May, it really helped me see that you can do so much with a Psychology degree! Having alumni come talk to psychology majors more on a personal level was really valuable. I felt more comfortable and at ease because of the size of the event as well. The alumni were very knowledgeable and had completely different occupations, which made it even more interesting, The different perspectives of the alumni showed endless possibilities. It’s inspiring to know that other options are available with your degree.
Top 5 Do’s and Don’ts as You Prepare for Your Career in Psychology DO’S
DON’TS
1. Take advantage of the career services to help with resumes, interviews, and much more 2. Do as many internships as possible to see what your strengths and interest are 3. Do make sure you have a broad, yet certain, perspective on what jobs can lead to your future with a psychology degree! 4. Do join clubs and organizations to develop friendships that could possibly benefit you and your future 5. Attend panels like these to learn more information on what is out there for psychology majors (attending graduate school or not)
1. Do not limit yourself (i.e. internships, jobs, courses) 2. Do not hesitate to speak with your advisor about anything involving careers or internships 3. Do not think you cannot do certain jobs because of your degree 4. Do not think that SPSS or any research classes won’t help your future career because it may come in handy and you will already have a head start on other possible co-workers. 5. Don’t be afraid to continue your education if you feel it is necessary.
Join our group! Monmouth University Department of Psychology Alumni and Current Students
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Psychology in Pictures Students Present Research at the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Convention in New York City
Jimmy Morecraft and Dr. Stapley presenting their research on death anxiety.
Lauren Acri presenting her research on the self’s influence on attributions.
Jennifer Townsend presenting her research on sexual communication.
Jessica Ketch presents her research on selfesteem and cultural sensitivity.
